Flying taxis are coming to South West
The giant drones should be able to carry up to four passengers and a pilot
A Bristol aerospace company has revealed designs for a so called "flying taxi", with hopes commercial flights could begin as soon as 2024.
Vertical Aerospace, based in the city, say the VA-1X will be the world's first certified winged all-electric vertical take off and landing (evTOL) aircraft, with manufacturing set to start in the UK shortly.
They claim it will be able to fly at cruise speeds of 150 miles per hour with a "useable range" of 100 miles.
“eVTOL technology will revolutionise travel, combining the safety of commercial airlines with the disruptive environmental and cost benefits of the electrification of flight” Michael Cervenka, CEO, Vertical Aerospace says in a statement.
“With the launch of the VA-1X, we’re proud to be taking eVTOL one step closer to mass-market adoption, and supporting the next era of aviation.
At Vertical Aerospace we believe that people should be able to quickly and affordably get from A to B without sacrificing the planet – with the VA-1X, this vision will start to be realised in under five years.”
Exactly how much a ride in the VA-1X will cost has not yet been revealed, but Vertical Aerospace say hope it will be "significantly cheaper" than helicopter flights.
Initially, they say it will cost between a helicopter flight and hiring a private car, with the price set to decrease as demand grows.
It will be certified to the same safety standards as a commercial airline and completely emission free, while avoiding the usual traffic on the roads.
Vertical Aerospace claim it could take passengers from London to Brighton in half an hour, compared to two hours driving or an hour by train.
You can see a video of the VA-1X here